Steam condenser



Patented Sept. 14, 1926;

" UNITED; STATES A 1.600.003 PATENTXOFFLCE.

JOHN B. KTRGAN, OI PHILLIPSBURG, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO INGERSOLL-RAND COHIEANY, OI JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STEAM CONDENSER.

Application filed August 14, 1925. Serial No. 50,152.

This invention relates to steam condensers of the surface type. l The object of the invention is to increase the operating efliciency of such condensers and to permit regulation of the flow of cooling water through the tubes at various levels within the condenser to be easily made.

Other ob'ects and advantages of the inlo vention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawing forming part of the specification, a condenser constructed in accordance with the practice of the invent-ion is il- 1 lustrated in longitudinal vertical section.

The condenser comprises a casing A having a steam inlet B and. an outlet 0 for condensate, air and uneondensible gases. Within the casin A and inclosed' thereby are provided a p uralit of cooling water tubesD extending lengt wise of the casing A and transverse to the direction of steam flow entering at the inlet B the tubes D are interposed between the steam inlet and 2 the air outlet. At their ends the tubes D are sealed in suitable tube sheets E to prevent the escape of water into the casln At the discharge end of the water tubes and suitably attached at a flange F of the casing is provided a discharge head G having an outlet H to conduct the cooling water to a reservoir or other suitable receptacle. The tubes D are supplied with water from a head J having a su ply pipe K. a The greater part 0 the condensation of steam takes place at the upper levels of tubes D in the condenser which may be termed the active zone. The lower levels of tubes which may be termed the inactive.

zone, cool and devaporize the air and uncondensible vapors rather than condense the steam. One reason for this condition is that as steam is condensed from the mixture of steam, air and uncondg ible gases, the proportion of air become greater and come quently as the stufi passes downwardly toward the outlet 0 the recess becomes one of cooling the air to evaporize it rather than of steamcondensation. The result is that high velocity of water throu h the lower banks of tubes is not necessary or the tubesjto perform their proper function in the inactive zone since the quantity of heat to be absorbed is comparatively. 'sli ht. In the active zone it is ighlydesira le that,

water pass at high velocity through the tubes D partly in order thatthe agitation due to hi h velocity may increase the tubeto-water eat transfer and also in order that the water shall not be heated to a relatively high temperature before being discharged into the head G.

In this embodiment high velocity is maintamed through the upper. levels of tubes D by choking the water supply to the tubes in the inactive zone resulting in agreater loss of head through tubes in the active zone than exists in tubes in the inactive zone. Greater turbulence is thus produced in the active zone and the heat transfer is thereby increased. To this end the inlet head J is provided with a horizontal deck or partition L at approximately the division between the active and inactive zones to divide the tubes D into upper and lower groups, the u per group being adjacent the steam inlet and the lower cup of tubes being above the air outlet C, 0th groups'being in the path of steam flow from inlet to air outlet within the condenser casing A. The deck L is rovided with an aperture 0 through WhlClf the flow of water may be throttled by means of a valve P. If desired, the valve P may be operated by suitable means (not shown) from the outside 'of85 the head J or the valve may be set from the inside to remain permanently adjusted. Another use of the'division ofthew ater head J into compartments by means of the deck L and the valve P is to shut ofli' the sup ly of water completely to the tubes D in t e inactive zones, during winter months when'water supplied to the head J is very cool. This provides a saving in efficiency -of the apparatus and-a resulting increased eficiency of the entire plant,

I claim:

1. -A. surface condenser having cooling water tubes forming u per and lower groups of tubes for the coo ing water, means for subjectin the tubes in the upper group to a greater oss of head per unit of length than the tubes in the lower group includm an inlet water head for the tubes provide with a horizontal partition to form compartments in said head and a valve in said partition to regulate the flow of water from the upper compartment to the lower and a casing inclosin said tpbes having a steam inlet adjacent t e upper group of tubes and an air outlet beyond the lower group of tubes with respect to the steam inlet.

2; A surface condenser comprising an outer casing, an inlet for steam to be condensed, an outlet for air and condensate, a plurality of water tubes extending through said casing transverse to the direction of steam flow, a discharge head for said water tubes and an inlet head having a horizontal partition therein to separate the tubes into an upper group adjacent the steam inlet and a lower group above the air outlet, said partition 'being provided with an aperture and a valve in said aperture to restrict the flow of water through saidv aperture and to subject the tubes in the lower grou to a less loss of head per unit of lengt than the tubes inthe upper group.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

JOHN F. KIRGAN. 

